Rabbits and eggs are in great abundance this time of year. And anyone who knows anything about the history of Easter knows why. They are symbols of fertility. The spring equinox has always been celebrated as the time that the earth is in full recovery from winter. The earth has come back from the dead, as it were. The pagans, who saw the earth as an entity to be worshiped, turned the equinox into an opportunity for revelry — and, typically, debauchery. (Children, if you don’t know what “fertility” and “debauchery” mean, ask your parents.) The Catholic church incorporated local pagan worship traditions as it spread throughout Europe many centuries ago. Thus, the celebration of the rebirth of the earth became the celebration of the risen Lord. (The Greek word in Acts 12:4 rendered “Easter” by the King James Version translators is the same word rendered “Passover” every other time it occurs.)

Our good friend Tenson Mangwinyana contacted me last week, saying he was going on the radio that night (our early afternoon) to discuss the topic of Easter. He wanted to know if I had any relevant material on the subject. I gave him what I had — in a nutshell, that Easter is a human creation with pagan origins; that early Bibles such as the King James Version substituted “Easter” in Acts 12:4, knowing full well the word was “Passover”; that the early Christians celebrated every “Lord’s Day,” including what we call Easter Sunday, by communing with Him in His death at His table.

Hal's books:

Remember Me With Favor

We all want to be remembered "for good." This study of Nehemiah from both textual and topical perspectives will help you preserve a legacy of faith that will be a source of encouragement for generations to come.

Construction in Progress: Building a Better Christian One Project at a Time

Accepting Jesus is only the first step of a spiritual journey. Construction in Progress helps you monitor your growth as a Christian through every stage of development.

The Mystery is Great: Husbands, Wives, and the Bride of Christ

The Bible consistently describes our relationship with God with the marriage relationship, and vice versa. in This Mystery is Great, the two topics are discussed side by side.

The Story of the Bible

How did the Bible come to be? Why these books and not others? What is the difference between translations? These and many other questions are dealt with in The Story of the Bible.

To Your Name: A Study of the Psalms, Volume 2

The second volume of To Your Name is now available. Suitable for large or small Bible classes or personal development, To Your Name helps the Bible student look at the Psalms from a variety of perspectives to maximize the usefulness and understanding of the text. Volume 1 is also available.

With One Heart, With One Voice

With One Heart, With One Voice is a study intended to help us "teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" (Colossians 3:16). By understanding hymns, learning about hymn writers, and reviewing some basic musical concepts, you will learn how better to worship God and instruct others in song.